Operator issues holiday programme for visually impared

Specialist operator Vitalise Holidays is offering destinations as diverse as Peru, Iceland and the Mediterranean in a summer 2008 programme for visually impared travellers.

The brochure is available in large print, Braille, CD and by email in PDF or Word.

Vitalise Holidays is run by national disability charity Vitalise to offer tailored holidays to visually impaired people.

Each holiday is categorised by activity and graded according to the level of fitness or expertise required of the holidaymaker, to help them make the right choice.

As well as a trained representative, each group is accompanied by sighted guides, who help the visually impaired holidaymakers experience as much of the flavour of the destination as possible.

In return for their support, the sighted guides receive their holiday at a discount.

In the UK, holidaymakers can choose from a variety of activities ranging from relaxation weekends to paragliding, a tour of the Channel Islands to learning survival skills, archaeology and skydiving.

Vitalise Holidays manager Clare Stephens said: "Every year we take hundreds of visually impaired people on holiday and we are delighted to receive their comments saying how much they enjoyed themselves and how much the support of the sighted guides enhanced their experience.

"In addition to our holidays, we have laid on special introductory weekends in the Lake District, to give newcomers to Vitalise Holidays a taster of what to expect.

"We will also preview some holidays that we hope to run right through until 2010."

With permission from Travelmole